Illuminated cabinet structure



`Fan. 25, 1966 H. D. FERGUSON, JR 3,231,732

ILLUMINATED CABINET STRUCTURE Filed June l, 1964 Fli'.

INVENTOR. /M/P/ Filmax/g JA. BY

F'/ ai. 5:

United States Patent O15 ice 3,231,732 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 3,231,732 ILLUMINATED CABINET STRUCTURE Harry D. Ferguson, Jr., Ambler, Pa., assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Dela- Ware Filed .lune 1, 1964, Ser. No. 371,661 7 Claims. (Cl. 240-5) This invention relates to illuminated cabinet structure and, while of lbroader applicability, is especially concerned with illumination of an oven provided with a window.

Ovens of various types, for example ovens of domestic ranges, have been provided with windows, normally in the door, to permit observation of the cooking process Without need for opening Ithe door. A light normally is provided for illuminating the interior of the oven, and preferably is energizable either upon opening the oven door or by means selectively operable by a user of the oven when the door is in closed position. The fixed oven structure normally is provided with a lightswitch controlled by a plunger operable by the door as it is opened and closed, and the door commonly includes means selectively operable to energize the light by actuating the plunger when the -door is closed.

It i-s an -objective of the invention to provide unusually simple and elfective door-carried swi-tch operating means. It is a feature of the invention that this means is pivotable in one sense permanently to energize and deenergize -an oven illuminating light while the door is closed, and pivotable in another sense momentarily to energize and deenergize the light. Said means is further pivotable t a predetermined rest position in which it is operable to control energization of the light upon opening and closing of the door.

A further objective of the invention is to provide improved oven light switch actuating linkage means disposed `substantially within an oven door, displacing a minimum of thermal insulation, and affording either momentary or permanent energization of the oven light at the will of the operator.

To the foregoing general ends, the invention comprises an actuating plunger for an oven light switch in combination with plunger actuating means axed to the oven door and selectively operable, when the door is closed, to move the plunger between extended and ret-racted switch operating positions. The plunger actuating means comprises a shaft extending within the door, and having a knob portion disposed to the outside of the door and a plunger-engaging portion disposed toward the other side of the door. The shaft is mounted for pivotal movements upon application of a suitable kforce to the knob portion, whereby to pivot the plunger-engaging portion between plunger operating positions. It is contemplated that the pivotal movements be, selectively, either tiltable or rotatable, the construction and arrangement being such that when the door is closed rocking or tilting of the lshaft will energize the light .so long as the knob is held to maintain the tilt, whereas rotation of the shaft will energize the light without need for holding the knob. So long as the knob portion and shaft are in the normal, rest position, the light will be respectively energized and deenergized in the usual manner upon opening and closing the door.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made -to the following description taken in light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of a domestic range embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary showing, on an enlarged scale, of the upper right corner of the range cabinet seen in `FIGURE 1, with the oven door in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional showing through the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of arrows 3 3 applied thereto;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3, and illustrates operational features of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is similar to FIGURE 4, and illustrates further operational features of the invention, as well as electrical circuit means for energizing the oven light; and

FIGURE 6 is a view of apparatus seen in FIGURE 5, partly in section, and looking in the direction of arrows 6 6 applied thereto.

With more particular reference to the drawing, and first to FIGURES l to 2, domestic range apparatus embodying the invention comprises a cabinet 10 provided with a back splashguard 11 within which burner and oven control means 12 are disposed. Top surface 13 supports heater elements 14 in the usual manner, and front wall 15 of cabinet 10 includes a front access opening 16 for oven 17. A heating element 22 is conveniently disposed in the lower region of oven 17, and a light 23 supported by a wall of oven 17 provides illumination for its interior.

Oven 17 is closed by a door 24 hingedly mounted in the usual manner for pivotal movements about its lower edge, in response to forces applied thereto through oven door handle 25. Actuating switch 26 (FIGURE 5) for light 23 is disposed in the upper right hand region of front wall 15, adjacent access opening 16. Switch 26 comprises an actuating plunger 27 movable transversely of the front wall 15. The construction and arrangement of the switch is such that when plunger 27 is moved to the right, spring 42 is compressed and the switch contacts are opened. When plunger 27 is moved to the left by spring 42 the switch contacts are closed, as illustrated, to energize light 23 by connecting it in series with terminals L1 and L2 of a suitable source of electrical energy.

The invention is directed especially to novel means 28 carried by door 24 for actuating plunger 27, either in response to opening and closing door 24 or by selective manual operation of means 28 when the door is closed, as will hereinafter be more fully described. A window 31 is provided in door 24 in order that the interior of the illuminated oven may be observed while the door is closed.

With particular reference to FIGURES 3 and 4, plunger actuating means 28 comprises a shaft 32 extending in the direction of its major axis through an opening 30 in the upper right corner of the generally planar outer panel portion 29 of door 24. A flange 38 extends transversely of shaft 32 and engages panel portion 29 along the periphery of opening 30. Shaft 32 terminates at its outer end in a knob 33, and at its inner end in a plunger-engaging cam 34 disposed between outer panel portion 29 and inner panel portion 40.

Referring also to FIGURE 6, cam 34 may best be described as a generally disk-shaped element having wing portions 35 inclined away from door panel portion 29 along spaced chords 36 of substantially equal length and parallel to one another. The center section, boun-ded by chords 36, is generally dat and means such as screw 39 extending through this flat portion axes cam 34 to shaft 32. Opening 30 in door panel portion 29 provides for pivotal movements of shaft 32, comprising either rotation about its major axis, as between the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, or tilting transversely of its major axis, as between the positions shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Both tilting and rotational movements are opposed by a 4helical spring 37 coiled about shaft 32 and reacting in compression between cam 34 and the inner surface of panel portion 29 along the periphery of opening 29.

The switch operation achieved by pivotal movements of shaft 32 will be more clearly understood when it is considered that the axis of shaft 32 is offset slightly from and generally parallel to the axis of plunger 27. When door 24 is closed, plunger 27 extends through an aperture 41 aligned therewith and provided in inner panel 40. Cam 34 is so shaped and disposed that when the door is moved to closed position, while shaft 32 is adjusted to its light deenergizing position (FIGURE 3), one of inclined wing portions 35 forcibly engages plunger 27 to move it to its retracted, light deenergizing position.

In order momentarily to energize light 23, knob 33 is grasped and shaft 32 rocked or tilted downwardly as is illustrated in FIGURE 4. Tilting shaft 32 moves inclined portion 35 of cam 34 upwardly away from plunger 27 until the plunger, under urging of spring 42, is projected toward the cent-ral, recessed region of cam 34 bounded by chords 36. In this adjustment, helical spring 37 coiled about shaft 32, and reacting between panel portion 29 and cam 34, is compressed eccentrically. Release of knob 33 permits compressed spring 37 to move shaft 32 to its original, rest position l(FIGURE 3), cam 34 is returned to its plunger retracting position, and the light is deenergized by opening of switch 26.

In order permanently to energize light 23 while door 24 is closed, knob 33 is grasped and rotated to turn shaft 32 about its major axis to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5. As seen by comparison of FIGURES 3 and 6, this rotational movement moves an inclined wing portion 35 of cam 34 out of engagement with plunger 27 and permits extensible movement of the plunger into the recessed portion of cam 34 bounded by chords 36. The shaft will remain in this position until knob 33 is again turned to its light deenergizing position (FIGURE, 3), in which an inclined wing portion 35 of cam 34 again engages plunger 27 to move it to retracted position.

While it will be appreciated that thermal insulation lls the space between outer door panel 29 and inner panel 40, none has been illustrated for the sake of convenience. However, it is emphasized that portions of the actuating linkage 28 disposedwithin the door displace a minimum of insulation, Also, by ldisposing the actuating elements interiorly of the door, the thermal path through the actuator to the knob 33 is minimal. Accordingly, the thermal insulative characteristics of the door are not impaired, nor is there discomfort to the user of the apparatus due to an overheated knob 33.

I claim:

1. In cabinet structure, means dening a compartment, illuminating means -for said compartment, a door movable between a pair of positions to open and close said compartment, window means through which the interior of said compartment may be viewed, a source of energy for said illuminating means, switch means for connecting and disconnecting said illuminating means and said source 4of energy, plunger means movable between a pair of positions for actuating said switch means, and means positioned upon said door and cooperable with said plunger means to actuate the same as said door is opened and closed, said last recited means further being mounted for selective pivotal movements about a pair of axes to cooperate with 'said plunger means when the door is closed, selective movement about a rst axis serving momentarily to actuate said plunger means, and selective movement about a second axis serving to hold said plunger means in one of its pair of positions.

2. Cabinet structure according to claim 1, and characterized in that said last recited means comprises a shaft extending through said door, said shaft including a knob portion disposed to one side of said door and a plunger means actuating portion disposed toward the other side of said door, said shaft being mounted for pivotal movements in two senses, upon application of force to said knob portion, whereby to pivot said plunger means actuating portion.

3. Cabinet structure according to claim 2 and characterized in that said shaft is mounted for independent pivotal movements either rotatably about its major axis or tiltably transversely `of its major axis.

4. In cabinet structure, means defining a compartment, illuminating means for sai-d compartment, a door movable between a pair of positions to open and close said compartment, window means through which the interior of said compartment may be viewed, a source of energy for said illuminating means, switch means for connecting and disconnecting said illuminating means and said source of energy, plunger means movable between a pair of positions for actuating the switch means, and means positioned upon said door and cooperable with said plunger means to actuate the same as said door is opened and closed, said last recited means comprising a shaft extending through said door and mounted for selective pivotal movements about a pair of -axes to cooperate with -said plunger means when said door is closed, said shaft including a knob portion disposed to one side of said door and a plunger means actuating portion disposed toward the other side of said door, said plunger means actuating portion including a generally planar central portion extending transversely of said shaft, and at least one wing portion bent out of the plane of the central portion and toward the position which said plunger means occupies when the door is closed, said wing portion engaging said plunger means to control energization of the illuminating means either upon pivotal movement of said shaft while said door is closed or upon opening and closing movements of said door, selective movement of said shaft about a rst axis, while said door is closed, being operable to move said wing portion momentarily to actuate said plunger means, and selective movement about a second axis, also while said door is closed, being operable to move said wing portion to hold such plunger means in one or its pair of positions.

5. Cabinet structure according to claim 4, and further characterized in that said door comprises Ia relatively thin panel portion having an aperture through which said shaft extends, said shaft including a flange portion extending transversely of its axis and engaging said panel portion along the periphery of sai-d aperture; and resilient means reacting between said panel portion and said plunger means engaging portion, tilting of said shaft being eifective to compress said resilient means whereby to urge said shaft toward its rest position.

6. In range apparatus: an oven having wall means provided with an access opening; a door for closing said access opening; a light for illuminating the interior of said oven; control means for energizing and deenergizing said light, including a switch and switch actuating plunger movable to projected position to operate the switch to energize said light and movable to a retracted position to operate the switch to deenergize said light; and plunger actuating means axed to said door and selectively operable when said door is closed to move said plunger between its extended and its retracted switch operating positions, said plunger actuating means comprising a shaft extending into said door, said shaft having a knob portion disposed to the outside of said door and a plunger engaging portion disposed toward the inside of said door, said plunger engaging portion comprising a generally disk-shaped cam supported in its central region by said shaft and including portions inclined toward the plunger, said inclined portions being presented for camming engagement with said plunger to retract or permit extension of the same in response to pivotal movements of said shaft, said shaft being mounted for pivotal movements about a plurality of axes upon application of force to said portions, whereby to pivot said plunger engaging portion between its said plunger operating positions.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and further characterized in that said door comprises: a relatively thin panel portion having an aperture through which said shaft extends; said shaft including a ange portion extending transversely of the axis of said shaft and engaging said panel portion alo-ng the periphery of said aperture; and resilient means reacting between said cam means and said panel portion, tilting of said shaft being eifective to compress said resilient means whereby to urge said shaft to its rest position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. IN CABINET STRUCTURE, MEANS DEFINING A COMPARTMENT, ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR SAID COMPARTMENT, A DOOR MOVABLE BETWEEN A PAIR OF POSITIONS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID COMPARTMENT, WINDOW MEANS THROUGH WHICH THE INTERIOR OF SAID COMPARTMENT MAY BE VIEWED, A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR SAID ILLUMINATING MEANS, SWITCH MEANS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING SAID ILLUMINATING MEANS AND SAID SOURCE OF ENERGY, PLUNGER MEANS MOVABLE BETWEEN A PAIR OF POSITIONS FOR ACTUATING SAID SWITCH MEANS, AND MEANS POSITIONED UPON SAID DOOR AND COOPERABLE WITH SAID PLUNGER MEANS TO ACTUATE THE SAME AS SAID DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED, SAID LAST RECITED MEANS FURTHER BEING MOUNTED FOR SELECTIVE PIVOTAL MOVEMENTS ABOUT A PAIR OF AXES TO COOPERATE WITH SAID PLUNGER MEANS WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, SELECTIVE MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS SERVING MOMENTARILY TO ACTUATE SAID PLUNGER MEANS, AND SELECTIVE MOVEMENT ABOUT A SECOND AXIS SERVING TO HOLD SAID PLUNGER MEANS IN ONE OF ITS PAIR OF POSITIONS. 